Yanks Force Game Three With 6-0 Win

Pulaski, VA - The Pulaski Yankees took game two of their playoff series with a 6-0 win to even the series at a game apiece and force a decisive game three tomorrow night at Calfee Park.

After getting blanked last night, Pulaski put up two runs in the second inning off the bat of Jesus Bastidas who hit a single to left field that scored Chad Bell and Ryder Green with two outs.

Yankees starter Ken Waldichuk delivered his best performance of the season to date as he cruised through 4.2 innings and gave up just one hit and matched his career high with nine strikeouts. The Royals didn't get a runner aboard until the fourth inning when Diego Hernandez hit a lead off single but Waldichuk bounced back with three straight strikeouts.

After striking out his ninth batter of the game Waldichuk was replaced by Jhonatan Munoz who then pitched himself into a slight jam. With two outs in the inning Munoz walked the first batter he faced on four straight pitches and then hit the next batter to put two aboard. A dropped third strike allowed the Royals batter to reach and loaded the bases in the top of the fifth before Munoz got a ground ball to end the inning and keep the Royals off the scoreboard.

The Yankees added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after Luis Santos hit a double to left center field. A failed pickoff attempt moved Santos to third where he scored on an infield single that Royals pitcher Adrian Alcantara deflected off his glove trying to reach behind his back to make a play on the ball. A doubled moved two runners into scoring position but the Yanks failed to tack on any more runs in the inning and the score remained 3-0.

Munoz struck out three more in the top of the sixth but another dropped third strike forced the Yankees to earn a fourth out of the inning which they did with a pop up to left field that left two more Royals stranded. On the night Burlington left 14 runners stranded and eight of those in scoring position.

Ryder Green hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and put the Yanks ahead 4-0. Cabello added to his night with a second RBI in the bottom of the seventh on a double that extend the lead even more before Jake Pries capped the Yankees scoring with a solo home run of his own in the eighth on a 3-2 pitch with two outs to put Pulaski up 6-0.

Hayden Wesneski replaced Munoz in the top of the eighth inning and retired the side after giving up a lead off single. He then struck out the side in order in the ninth to complete the win for Pulaski and force a third game tomorrow night.

The Yankees three pitchers tonight set a new single game high in strikeouts with 18, topping their previous high of 15 all while giving up just one walk and three hits in their dominating pitching performance.

Pulaksi will hope to get the same kind of production from Randy Vasquez who will start tomorrow's game on the mound for the Yankees. Vasquez finished the regular season 4-1 with a 3.29 ERA and was the league leader in batting average against as he held opposing hitters to just .188 in 54.2 innings.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with gates at Calfee Park opening at 4 0'clock.

The Pulaski Yankees are the Advanced Rookie level affiliate of the New York Yankees playing in the Appalachian League. Pulaski is celebrating its 54th season in the Appalachian League in 2019. Calfee Park has won league championships in 1948, 1969, 1986, 1991 and 2013. Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park opened in 1935 and was renovated for the team's first season as a Yankees affiliate in 2015. For more information, please visit www.pulaskiyankees.net or follow the Pulaski Yankees on social media, @PulaskiYanks (Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram). This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.